STANTON, MI - Lawyers for two former Tri County Area Schools teachers investigated by the district for alleged inappropriate use of district computers have filed a request to block the school district from disclosing records of the probe.

As the investigation was concluding, both Maureen Baker, an English teacher hired in 1994, and Jeffrey Ells, a science teacher hired in 2001, resigned from the district effective Jan. 24, 2014. The teachers had been on paid administrative leave since last fall. Parents were informed of that decision and the investigation in an Oct. 17, 2013 letter from Superintendent Allen Cumings. There were no criminal activity discovered from the alleged misuse.

Lawyers for the teachers say they will be "irreparably harmed, embarrassed, and will suffer a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy" by the district's disclosure of the investigation, according to documents filed with the Montcalm County Circuit Court, Thursday, April 3.

The case has reached the legal system based on a public records request from the media. A court date is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15, to show cause why the temporary order should not be a permanent injunction.

"We will fully cooperate with what the court decides," said Cumings, who said the district is limited as to what it can disclose about their investigation given the injunction.

"We continue to work toward providing a quality education for our students. Our teaching staff continues to work toward helping our students achieve their best future."

Another staff member in the 2,200-student district notified the administration of the alleged inappropriate use of district computers. The specific nature of the material the teachers were being investigated for was never released, but it did not involve students, according to Cumings.

The school board entered into resignation agreements with Baker, of Sparta, and Ells of Cedar Springs, and never voted to pursue tenure charges against them. However, the restraining order filed specifically requests the district be kept from disclosing what were proposed tenure charges and all related documents from the investigation.

The resignation meant that the district would not need to retain attorneys to pursue an elongated process of tenure charge through the State Tenure Commission, according to Cumings, noting it is often an expensive and time-consuming process for necessary witnesses and the district.

According to court records, the teachers denied the proposed tenure charges as untrue.

Under the resignation agreements, the district will pay Baker and Ells through the end of their 2013-14 contracts.

Fil Iorio, an attorney representing the teachers, was contacted about the injunction and investigation. He did not return the call and email for comment before publication.

Records show the teachers' attorneys believe the documents should have been destroyed since the teachers resigned prior to a finding in the investigation.